Commissioners Updated

Carroll capsule

WESTMINSTER — Jolene Sullivan, director of the Department of Citizen Services, told the county commissioners about day-care issues and her work with the contribution and aid budgetary committee.

The at-risk-for-day-care committee had its first and probably last meeting in September because "everything we wanted to do required funding," she said

"We first need to have an increase in dollars for child day care at the state level," she said.

In addition to day-care issues, Sullivan reported on her plan to implement the contribution and aid process, which would make fiscal budget planning for certain agencies more efficient.

"I concentrate on six agencies (Youth Services Bureau, Rape Crisis, Battered Spouse, Sexual Abuse, Social Services and Human Services Program) which are not directly county agencies but receive county funds," said Sullivan. "Right now, we are outlining and planning how we will budget our funds."

The contribution and aid process works as a mechanism to describe the program, its goals, objectives and how it will spend county dollars.

"I am hoping to have enough information so that I can monitor the programs on a quarterly basis if necessary," Sullivan said. "This process should allow us to do long range planning for the next five years."

AVONDALE ROAD IS CLOSED

DATELINE: WESTMINSTER

WESTMINSTER -- An obsolete section of Avondale Road southwest of the city will be closed, the county commissioners decided last week.

At a brief public hearing that did not attract an audience, the commissioners closed a half-mile section of the road near Route 31.

The section closed will be served by a newly constructed roadway built alongside Avondale Road.

TOWN GOES HISTORIC

DATELINE: SYKESVILLE

SYKESVILLE -- The Town Council Monday night unanimously passed the proposed Historic District Ordinance and map thatputs a major portion of the center of town in the district.

The ordinance requires property owners in the district to come to the five-member Historic Preservation Commission for approval before making changes to the exterior of their buildings.

Voting on the ordinancehad been deferred from the Oct. 14 meeting after the council split 3-3 on whether appeals should go the town's Zoning Board of Appeals orthe County Circuit Court.

Monday's revised ordinance calls for appeals to go to Circuit Court. There was no discussion on the matter.

The ordinance also takes away exterior color as an alteration to abuilding on which the commission can rule. The council had debated that issue Oct. 14 as well.

An amendment by Councilman Wiley Purkeyto include on the map an empty parcel of land on Sandosky Road ownedby the town was later withdrawn after other council members questioned the intent of the ordinance.

"A new building would not have historic significance, but could be built in an historic manner," said Council President Kenneth W. Clark. "It is not the intent of the ordinance to dictate future building."

In other action:

* The council voted to defer a public hearing on the Harman property annexation until Dec. 9 because the survey plats have not been turned over to thetown as required for the resolution needed to approve the annex.

A public hearing on the annexation has been advertised for Nov. 11. Mayor Lloyd R. Helt Jr. instructed Town Manager James L. Schumacher totell the petitioners to pay for running additional ads changing the hearing date since they did not meet the requirements for the annexation.

* Mayor Lloyd R. Helt Jr. announced that the county commissioners have deferred action on approving money from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for a tot lot on Jennifer Way.

The town had hoped to get a $7,600 grant from the Advisory Board to install the totlot before winter. Lexington Run residents have been raising money for the tot lot as a community self-help project.

LANDSCAPE GROUP MEETS

DATELINE: WESTMINSTER

WESTMINSTER -- Work continued Monday on the proposed landscape manual and ordinance for the city.

The 11-member Landscape Ordinance Committee met at City Hall to discuss aspectsof the proposed measure. The landscape guidelines will primarily cover landscaping requirements for new subdivisions and new commercial-industrial projects.

The committee is reviewing the county's 2 1/2-year-old landscape manual as a starting point for the town measure.

One of the basic elements of the county manual is a requirement forone tree for every new unit in a new development of single-family home. In new apartment complexes, the requirement is one tree for every12 apartment units.

The county measure also includes some screening requirements for rear yards in single-family home developments.

The committee is studying Mount Airy's landscape manual.

The mayor and City Council had asked the committee to make its recommendations by the end of the year. Committee members said Monday their work will probably not be completed early next year.